Knife and fork cleaner



(No Model.)

H. R. FAY.

s WITNESSES: EH INVENTEIR. mm .W 449 4km 22% BY S :8

fifmlamkfm N. PETERS. Phulc-Llbcgmphcr, Washington. D c.

AT TDRNEY- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY R. FAY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNIFE AND FORK CLEANE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,142, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed February 27, 1888- Sofia-1N0. 265,512. (No model.)

ton, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knife and Fork Cleaners, of which the following, taken in 0011- nection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to a device adapted to be used in the cleaning of knives and forks.

The object of my device is to produce a lowcost knife and fork cleaner that in use will be effective, durable, and cleanly.

Figure 1 represents my device in side elevation, as it is arranged when not in use and when prepared for shipment. Fig. 2 represents my device in side elevation, ready for use; and Fig. 3 is aplan of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a tank-cover in front elevation, showing fastening-hook. Fig. 5 represents in elevation cork-screw end of cork-carrier.

Nomenclature of parts with corresponding figures of reference: Base, 6; tank, 7; corkholder, 8; stationary cork, 9; tank-cover, 10; fastening-hook, 11; cork-carrier, 12; cork, 13; cork-screw end of cork-carrier, 14; eye end of cork-carrier, 15; pivot-screw, 16; washers, 17 and 18.

The parts composing the knife and fork cleaner may be made of any suitable material; but, preferably, they should be made of the following materials: base of wood; tank, tank-cover, and cork-holder of tin-plate; corkcarrier, fastening hook, pivot screw, and washers of steel or wrought-iron. Cork-carrier and cork-holder to be supplied with or dinary cork stopples.

To the base 6 is fastened the tank 7, to which is fastened the cork-holder 8. The cork 9 is placed in the cork-holder. The tank is provided with the tank-coverlO, to which is fastened the fastening-hook 11. The corkscrew end 11 is provided with the cork 13. The cork-carrier 12 is pivoted loosely to the base by means of eye end of cork-carrier 15, pivot-screw 16, and washers 17 and 18.

The parts being made as above described and assembled as shown by Figs. 2 and 3, the operation of my device is as follows: The portion of the tank not occupied by the corkholder is supplied with an abradant. For the cleaning of steel knives and forks pulverized Bristol brick is commonly used. Then the cork attached to cork-carrier is moved by the operator until it is over the mass of abradant against which .the cork is placed. The cork is then placed in its operative position over and opposite the stationary cork, and deposits upon its upper face aportion of the abradant, which adhered to the lower face of the cork attached to the cork-carrier. This operation is repeated until the operative faces of the corks are supplied with a sufficient coating of the abradant. Then the knife to be cleaned is forced back and forth between the faces of the corks, preferably in lines parallel to axial line of cork carrier, until it is thoroughly cleaned. During this operation the operator holds the cork attached to cork-carrier in its position of oppositeness subjected to vertical pressure. A fork to be cleaned is held by the operator between the operative faces of the corks at right angles to the horizontal axial line of cork-carrier, and the cork attached to the cork-carrier is rubbed over the fork. The corl -screw end of the cork-carrier freely permits the operative face of the cork to adapt itself to the curves of the fork. The vibratory movement of the cork in the cleaning of forks is in radial lines, as represented by dotted radial line in Fig.

If it is desired to moisten the operati ve faces of the corks, a waterholder supplied with water may be placed within the tank, and the faces may be supplied with water in a manner similar to the supplying the faces with the abradant. For the cleaning of silver knives and forks any suitable abradant may be used, and the operative cork-faces may be pieces of felt securely fastened to the corks. I

If desired, the base may be provided with any suitable clamping device, by means of which the cleaner may be firmly held.

The cork 13 may be secured to the cork-carrier by any suitable means, such as will permit the desired slight rotary and radial m ovements of the cork.

Blocks of wood, covered with felt or other similar material, or other well-known. substitut-es for the corks, may be used.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a knife and fork cleaner, the combi 11ation of the cork-holder 8, provided with the cork 9, with the cork 13, provided. with the cork-carrier 19, which is loosely pivoted and is provided with the cork-screw end, thereby permitting the cork 123 to be operated in lines radial, vertical, and curvilineal, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a knife and fork cleaner, the combination of the tank '7, adapted to be used as a holder of supplies to be used in the cleaning of knives and forks and to be conveyed therefrom by the use of cork 13, and provided with the cork-holder 8 and cork 9, with the corkcarrier 12, provided with the cork 12 said earrier 12 being loosely pivoted and provided with the cork-screw end, thereby permitting the cork 13 to be operated in lines radial, vertical, and eurvilineal, si'ibstzintiztlly as do.-

scribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 18th day of February, A. I). 1888.

llEiTRY R. FAY. \Vi tnesses:

E. FRANK WooDBURY, J. L. BAILEY. 

